Content

Salford City Council – Record of
Decision
 
I Councillor Youd, Lead Member
for Finance and Support Services and chairman of the Procurement
Board, in exercise of the powers contained within the
Council Constitution
do hereby approve:
 
·     
the award of the Contract for the Extension of the
Agency Drainage Engineer Position, as detailed in the table
below:
 

Detail required

Answers

Title/Description of Contracted
Service/Supply/Project

Extension of the Agency Drainage Engineer
Position

Name of Successful
Contractor

Reed

Supplier Registration Number

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

Type of organisation

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

Choose an item.

Status of Organisation

(to be supplied by Corporate
Procurement)

Choose an item.

Contract Value (£)

£80,640 per annum estimated average

Contract Duration

12 months

Contract Start Date

27/11/2023

Contract End Date

29/11/2024

Optional Extension Period 1

12 months

Optional Extension Period 2

months

Who will approve each Extension
Period?

Strategic Director (extension <
£150k)

Contact Officer (Name &
number)

Stephen Hands

Lead Service Group

Place

How the contract was procured?

(to be supplied by
procurement)

 

Framework Details (where
applicable)

(procurement body, framework reference
& title, start/ end date

N/A

Funding Source

Capital Programme

Ethical Contractor (EC): Mayor’s Employment
Charter

 
 

EC: Committed to sign up to charter

EC: Accredited Living Wage Employer

 
 

The Reasons are:
To provide support for the
Flood Risk & Drainage Manager and enable the service area to
meet its Statutory and other duties.
 
Options considered and rejected
were:
-      
The appointment of permanent staff – the role
has been advertised multiple times, most recently in June 2023 with
no suitable candidate forthcoming. A further recruitment exercise
is planned.
-      
External Provider – An arrangement was briefly
entered into but was cut short as it was not considered to provide
the required level of service. Other framework providers were
approached but could not provide a suitable
candidate/service.
 
Assessment of Risk:
High – The
Council is at risk if it not able to meet its Statutory obligations
in relation to flood water management. The Flood Risk and Drainage
Service Area is not able to meet these, or to carry out other
functions without the current level of resource as a
minimum.
 
The source of funding
is:
A combination of revenue from
Planning and Lead Local Flood Authority budgets, augmented with
capital funding from project work.
 
Legal Advice obtained:
No Legal implications as such.
The Council may engage such staff as it thinks fit in order to
discharge its functions, and to support that, holds an existing
contract with Reed for the provision of agency workers as and when
they may be required.
 
Within the agreement with Reed
there is no limit to the value of orders that are placed with Reed,
and therefore the route to engage the worker is compliant with
CSOs.
 
Financial Advice
obtained:
No financial
implications as such.  The cost of the
position is included in the Budget 2023-24 and is covered by the
Budget from Planning and rechargeable work.
 
Procurement Advice
obtained:
The Council holds an existing
contract with Reed for the provision of Temporary Agency workers,
commissioned by Trafford Council on behalf of all GM authorities
which commenced on 29 January 2022 until 28 January
2025.
 
There is no limit to the value
of orders that are placed with Reed, and therefore the route to
engage the worker is compliant with CSOs.
 
HR Advice obtained:
It should be noted that whilst
the request is to offer a 1-year contract extension, there is no
obligation to keep the agency member of staff in role for the
entire year. There is flexibility to terminate the contract within
this period providing 1 weeks’ notice to Reed. A contract
extension allows the council some time to consider alternative
recruitment approaches. The aim is to source a permanent drainage
engineer to provide better stability for the team in the long-term.
The council will be using the executive search facilities and
expertise of Penna recruitment agency to front this campaign. The
aim of the campaign is to appeal to a candidate that is looking for
better job security and someone that will want to develop their
skills and career with the council. Further work is also being
undertaken to analyse market rates to establish if the council
rates of pay are comparable with its competitors.
 
Climate Change Implications
obtained:
Flooding is increasing with
climate change, placing homes and communities at greater risk. As
part of the management of flood risk, Sustainable urban Drainage
Systems (SuDS) are vital infrastructure, helping to reduce surface
water flooding and water pollution. They also enhance habitats,
support wildlife and provide public amenity.
 
Contact Officer:
Stephen Hands
 
This matter is not subject to
consideration by another Lead Member.
 
The appropriate Scrutiny
Committee to call-in the decision is the
 
 

Signed:     Cllr J
Youd         Dated:     22
November 2023.
           
    Lead Member
 

FOR DEMOCRATIC SERVICES USE
ONLY
 
*          
This decision was published on 22 November 2023
*          
This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 30 November 2023
unless it is called-in in
accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.